The PUNCH however learnt on Monday that the report, compiled by the police, had compelled security agencies to review their strategies to stem the trend and effectively counter security challenges during the yuletide.

A top police officer who spoke to one of our correspondents on the report said, “We have a report which shows that some nefarious elements want to take advantage of the festive season to bring (more) arms into the country. But all security agents have strenghtened their intelligence networks.”

When contacted, Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, asssured that the polie were ready to prevent importaion of arms into the country at any time.

“The police collaborated with INTERPOL to track down the international angle to arms importation, adding that its operations in troubled countries like Sudan, Liberia and others were meant to get to the root of illegal arms that find their way into Nigeria,” he said.

Already, security has been beefed up at the nation’s airports, land borders and sea ports.

The preventive measures appear to have yielded results as the police said they had recovered a huge arms cache, including 74 AK-47 riffles, six rocket launchers, 13 rocket grenades and dynamites from criminals and arms dealers in Lagos and Anambra states just under six weeks.

Also a vessel, MV Naomi Corcel, which was carrying 20,000 rounds of ammunition and 100 AK-47 riffles, was seized near Badagry, Lagos.

It was learnt that a task force consisting of the Navy, Nigerian Maritime Administration Safety Agency, a private security agency, Global West, and marine police seized the vessel.

The task force also arrested 15 crew members, made up of three Ghanaians, four Togolese and eight Nigerians.

A source said the arms and ammunition, including AK-47 rifles, thousands of live bullets and explosive devices intercepted by the police in the two states “were enough to equip a small army.”

Thousands of live ammunition for AK 47 rifles and assorted guns were recovered while 48 suspects were arrested in connection with the case.

Mba confirmed the seizure to one of our correspondents in Abuja on Monday

Mba also said three suspects, namely Uche Ukagu, Emmanuel Ezeani, and Chinonso Emeka were arrested in connection with the arms shipment.

On October 10, the police seized seven AK 47 rifles, one Lar rifle, 220 ammunition, one K.2 rifle and three pump action guns, 145 live cartridge, 59 magazines of AK47 rifle and one magazine of Lars rifle.

During another operations, the command recovered 16, 703 ammo for AK47 rifle, 316 cartridge, 391 AK 47 magazine; one K.2 rifle; three pump action, five pieces of dynamite; 145 live cartridge, 59 magazines of AK47 and one magazine of Lar rifle.

The police arrested Ali Kadiri, Victor Alege and Joseph Nnamdi during the operation.

In Anambra, the police arrested one Olise Ifedika and two others at Oraifite with 27 AK47 rifles; one K.2 rifle; two type 06 rifles; one GPMG; one rocket launcher;17 rockets; six pump action; three Dane guns; one beretta pistol; 13 rocket grenades and 12,000 AK 47 ammunition.

Mba said the police also confiscated 95 rounds of GPMG ammunition and 143 magazines, adding that the confession of a suspect led to the recovery of additional two AK47 rifles, one type 06, one rocket grenade, three rocket launchers; 7,700 AK47 ammunition and 27 magazines at Uli on September 17

“One Emeka Ezekudi was arrested and nine chains for restraining kidnap victims were also recovered,” the force spokesman stated.

Mba said the force had strengthened the capacity of its intelligence unit to intercept, analyse and deploy information and personnel that could assist in countering importation of arms.

According to him, the appointment of Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, as the head of the police intelligence department has added bite to the intelligence unit of the force and increased the capacity of police personnel to monitor land and water borders.

The police also said that they collaborated with INTERPOL to track down the international angle to arms importation, adding that itheir peace-keeping operations in troubled countries like Sudan, Liberia and others were meant to get to the root of illegal arms that find their way into Nigeria.

Investigations showed that the suspects, who were arrested in connection with the arms seizure, had confessed that smuggled arms were offloaded in a depot in Badary, Lagos State, from where they were sent to other parts of the country.

A top security source told one of our correspondents that the suspects were being detained at Beecroft, Naval Base, Apapa.

Investigations revealed that the suspects had allegedly confessed that they were working for one businessman, simply identified as Charles.

It was learnt that in their confessional statements, they said their sponsor was working for a permanent secretary in Abuja. They were also said to have listed some officers of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources as their sponsors.

The suspects were said to have also confessed that besides using the vessel to steal fuel, it was meant for importation of arms and ammunition.

They reportedly transported arms and ammunition to Badagry five different times in the last three months.

why this idiots never worry when terrorist travel to mecca to eat stone and come back with bombs, why are they concern when inocent peace loving Children of Most High God are celebrating ? last month they sponsore thousands of terrorist to go to saudi arabia and iran to bring in bomb of jehad and no security report was issue now the are talking shit

Tony Are

U bi oloshi! U need to go and rut in hell…cuz u bi one big oloshi!

Gideon

Igbo already said that they are prepared to declare war on Lagos. Why should anyone be surprised. These people (Igbo) are the ones carrying out armed robbery in Nigeria. They have sworn that they will make Nigeria uncomfortable until they are let go. Port-Harcourt & Calabar area are afraid for Biafra, since they know that Igbo would forcefully take over their land as part of Biafra!

jaes

But thanks first to D police. But wht of D BKs, theysuddenly turned saints? They perpetrate D worst evil, there is no single noise abt any Hausa man on Business of arm. At least it will be sensible to hear dat 1 Alhaji was there sponsor, or even caught wit arms. D truth we hav hid in dis country will 1 certain day overwash ppl like dis I:G, who hav neatly kept his ppl clean as D sky. Knw it dat in evry places ther r evil ppl, then hw come no 1 hausa man did import or was involve in dis story? It wa united states, in a 2yr agoi, that told Joe abt Iran sending ammunition into our, bordes, u knw wht he did, he return D shipment back lik aboy afriad of his mate! We cant monitor terrorising but roaming only on D sea, are ther no aerial survallance? America knw wether Iran has made ther bomb or not, is not by sending spys, sey watch it frm D sky.Iran must conctanlty be watched,with any dealings wit dis nation. D worst is hw sur wer D hajjs operation free frm importation of arms, especially dose who went to d same Iran?

Tony Are

I wonder how many Oloshi that like to come to Punch and makes silly comments! Police is reporting about arms smugglig for new year crimes and you only see ethnic crap out of it? Is it not your family and relatives they going to use the arms against? Besides, NE Nigeria as its own perculia problems, it is not arm smuggle for robbery but terrorism, while mixing them up?

aremu omo oba

The Policemen are planning on how they will collecting their tolls of 50 naira, during the Christmas period. Can these Nigerian police arrest the importation of gun to Nigeria? No of course, people are not stupid to bring in arms to the country through airport. Nigeria has the most porous land border in the whole World.
The police were just making stupid noise and making arrangements of the toil money and also making arrangement of sharing formula of such money. My people do not take notice of them.

Tony Are

Yeah!! Aremu of Mumuni@ They were lying about the discovered arms too. I hope non of your relatives die from armed robbery before new year!

As long as I respect the intelligence of the Inspector General of Police. There is a little error that he has frequently been making, and that has to do with the unnecessary publicity of their strategies and plans; an example of this, was when he publicly announced in all the Nigerian Newspapers that BOKO HARAM sponsors such as some Senators and governors whose names were mentioned was on watch by the Police. This meaning that the mentioned people should take caution with the way they operate. To me I may be wrong, it appears unprofessional. The same thing is happening in today newspapers that there are plans that some nefarious people are trying to bring in ammunition during the Christmas period. Must the police announce such things publicly? instead of going on with their secret security beef-up and not to keep the culprit informed or aware that the security is after them. Please sir, I respect your integrity so much and I will not want it jeopardize, kindly apply some more intelligence and professionalism into the Force.

eddy

i am not a security officer, i have never been and will never be one.

i strongly agree with you that Nigeria Security Agencies need to apply wisdom (wisdom is the priciple thing). Have you forgotten how they usually give details of home made bombs: the contents and even how it was connected.

Tony Are

Capol:- u takes things on face value. Think very well, u that was arrested will be obviously watch everyday. They are just confirming to them what these MFs already know

oyewale

I recently discover that the government security agents knows less compare to the industrial security specialist. I wonder if the rating of evaluating intelligence gathering includes publication. Meaninig, the adversaries would go back and strategies to be a step ahead of the Govt security agents. CAPOL, you are very right. Are aware of Intelligence Fratanity of Nigeria? IFON, Find out more.

It will enbale you know the meaning of this publication.

wetalk

@Capol u’re very correct. I wonder d way d police spokesman thinks.

SCANDINAVIAN

WHAT IS NIGERIA TURNING INTO ???… , KILLING, KIDNAPING, BOMBIMG,RITUALS, IMPORTATION OF ARMS, ETC…OKE OCHICHO… NIGERIANS WHICH WAY ???…NIGERIAN CITIZENS FEAR GOD AND OBEY HIS WORD … FOR WHAT SHALL IT PROFIT A MAN WHEN HE GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD AND LOST HIS SOUL ???…FOR WE ARE LIVING IN THIS WORLD FOR TEMPERARY, FOR OUR SOULS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANY OTHER THING IN THIS LIFE…MY FELLOW NIGERIANS PLS ,PLS,PLS ,SEEK THE FACE OF GOD AND STOP CRIMES.

leonard Echee

I will advice Nigerians to be on their guards as these nefarious elements prepare for wanton killing of innocent people. As for the Police am crying for you people, because the way and manner you handle some salient cases, is very shameful to a Country like Nigeria

Abdullahi

It is suppressing y som ppl still behaving like a kit. Hv u ppl 4geting dat there’s no any sociaty dat is free fr crime. D report shows dat dis ppl r nt fr North dat is y u refuse to believe d police, dis is very very unfair. Time has come dat we support to join hand 2gede nd fight crime out of our beloved country, not looking at it has a some one problem bt a problem of all. God bless Nig. Nd God bless u all

Adamawa

My GOD! Is Nigeria going to be place for armagedon war?

fred

always use latest pictures ,when communicating. That Abubakar is a commissioner of police and not IG.So always use correct pictures. its not only Nigerian that read your paper.

Kingsley Enyinnaya

the report is very preposterous and manipulated to suits the intendments of the people seeking to divert the attention from the Boko haram to issue Biafra,the little discovering of small arms in Anambra state is enough to raise a small Army barack, if this true,what the arms building in the Northern Nigeria,bombs,police could discover anything in North with internationally marked as go areas,but police is discovering arms in anambra,if you police is just waking up from self-induced sleep,and is willing to discover arms,bombs,let police go up North, up the porous borders up North,and do their work, dont any Igbo state a bad to launder your already battered image

MY VOICE

WELL IT TOOK NIGERIA 3 GOOD YEARS TO FIGHT IGBOS BIAFRA EVEN WITH THE HELP OF BRITISH AND RUSSIAN SOLDIERS THIS TIME AROUND NO ONE WILL HELP THEM NIGERIA WILL BE IN HELL SOON, IF ANYTHING HAPPENED TO THOSE PEOPLE ARRESTED IN ENUGU HELL WILL GET LOSE, HAS NIGERIA WITNESS ATOMIC MISSILE BEFORE? YOU WILL SEE IT AND HIROSHIMA WILL BE A TOY TO COMPARE WHAT NIGERIA WILL SEE IN THE HAND OF BIAFRA…HELL WILL GET LOSE OOH CAN ANY RIGHT THINKING HUMAN BEING ASK NIGERIA SOLDIERS IN ENUGU TO RELEASE THOSE ARRESTED INNOCENT MEN AND WOMEN? THE HELL WILL SOON GET LOSE, BOKO HARAM IS A TOY TO COMPARE WHAT NIGERIA WILL SEE, RELEASE THOSE GUYS

Akin Oges

PUNCH, you guys are doing a fantastic job, but you have unwittingly demoted the IGP by three (3) ranks down with the picture published in this article. Wetin the man do na? Hahahaha…..!! Not to worry. I know it is not intended, these things happen. But please amend. Good job guys, and many thanks.

http://www.punchng.com/comments Adamu Song Esq.

All Sentimental comments here based on sectionalism ar nothin but acts of myopic idiots:north or south is both Nigeria

Gideon

Do not be surprised. Igbo have been importing firearms into the country in record high in preparation for Biafra. Some of them have even bragged that their first priority is to annex Lagos, since they claim they have invested too heavily in Lagos. It is time to make Yoruba land difficult for these people, so that we can push them back to their fox holes in SE!

niyi

Buhari is a honest PRESIDENT.Jonathan lacks knowledge,that is why he is just looking and things are like this.Under his leadership,the policemen going around killing men and children said to be BH on the youtube.He must have sent them to do so,otherwise…Very wrong.Buhari tried and killed criminals in his govt. then,but through the court of law.GEJ govt. created this retro-attack from the people who felt cheated and have nothing else to loose.But the real BH are the ones sponsoring the bombings and financing those felt cheated.BUHARI WOULD HAVE STOPPED THAT AT ONCE. iam sure of it.